Thank you all so much for the comments on the last chapter of this. They really do help with writing :-) this took a little longer than I thought, it didn't seem to go right no matter what I did but I hope you enjoy it anyway. I felt mean that some of you have commented on this and I've not commented on your stories so I tried to do that before posting this for some of you. :-) Anyway here's the next bit, I hope you enjoy. As always, please leave comments if you have the time.

Part Three.

The following morning, Carla woke up and in her groggy state she instinctively reached out to Peter, but found the other side of the bed empty. She sighed quietly and let a small smile tug at the corners of her lips as she picked her phone up from the small table that stood at the side of the bed, finding a text from Peter to let her know he was missing her. She was missing him, more than she might have liked to admit, but one thing that she didn't miss was being in Weatherfield and around the man that had put her through the most horrific experience of her life. Carla wasn't sure when or if she would get over what had happened to her, and in around three months she would have a permanent reminder of that fateful night and the one thing that she was terrified of more than anything else, was, growing to hate the baby due to what Frank had done.

Carla sighed quietly and turned to the side as the door opened, offering a small smile to a beaming Suzie who walked through the door with a large tray of food. Carla sat up a little and took the coffee and the orange juice from the tray, putting them on the side so that she didn't spill them while sitting down on the bed beside her.
"I'm not sure I'm going to be able to eat all of that..."
"It's not an option; some of it's for me." Suzie laughed and nudged Carla in a manner that let her know she was joking and when Carla gasped quietly and placed her hand to her stomach, Suzie raised her eyebrow a little. "Is it kicking?"
Carla nodded.
"It knows I'm here, that's why."
Carla smirked "must be trying to tell me to get rid of you."
"Er, I'll have you know that baby Connor and it's Auntie Suzie will be the best of friends."
"Barlow."
Suzie frowned and shook her head to indicate her confusion. "What?"
"Baby Barlow"
Suzie smile and nodded at Carla who took her hand and placed it against her stomach as she felt the baby kick once more.
"It's going to be a footballer."
"You sound like Peter..."
"Decided it's a boy has he? Or is there something that you're not telling me?"
"We don't know, we've decided to leave it as a surprise."
"You decided on any names yet?"
"That argument is on-going."
Suzie laughed and nodded at her "yeah I bet."
Carla smiled and for a few moments she almost forgot what was going on, talking about the baby and Peter to her best friend would have been perfect, if it wasn't for the extra bit of knowledge that she had.

Half an hour later when Suzie and Carla had eaten the majority of the food on the tray that was on Carla's lap, Carla frowned when Suzie spoke.
"you've got about an hour to get ready."
"what do you mean? Where are we going?"
"the spa."
"why?"
Suzie shrugged "I don't know I just thought that it might be nice for us now come on."
Carla chuckled at her friends bossiness which was much like her own and nodded "alright, let me get showered."

Carla had found herself showering more and more often since Frank had attacked her, it was something that she tried to keep as subtle as possible, but deep down had noticed herself doing it. It was like she was trying to wash him away and wash away what he had done. Of course she knew it was impossible but it seemed that it wasn't enough of a reason to stop washing all of the time. Sometimes she would shower twice a day, and had done it three times on one occasion, but when Peter had asked her about it, the shock of being put on the spot by him had made her conscious of not doing it while he was around.

As Carla stepped under the water of Suzie's shower she sighed quietly and ran her hand over her swollen stomach. It was almost instinct for her to do so and that action in itself spoke volumes to Carla, when she had found herself doing it before her holiday she had had Frank's words ringing in her ears, or she would find herself back at that night and almost having a panic attack just thinking about it. But this time was different, things were by no means sorted, but as well as Frank's words ringing in her ears when she thought about her baby, she now had Suzie's words too.

"That baby in there is your baby and Peter's baby. Nothing to do with him."

She tried to concentrate on them and in that moment vowed to do whatever she could to make sure the baby she was carrying didn't have a childhood like her own. To make sure that it was well cared for and wanted for nothing and most of all to know that it had a Mother who would do anything for it.

-

Peter had been working in the Bookies all morning and had decided to go to the pub for a drink for his lunch. He couldn't deny that he was missing Carla had had been texting her regularly throw out her trip. He almost laughed out at himself and knew that he'd turned into one of those people who he'd said on more than one occasion made him feel sick. He had never thought he would feel about someone the way he felt about Carla, before their relationship had started he'd thought that being with Leanne was love, but on finding Carla he found out that it was something very different altogether. He had loved Leanne, but he wasn't in love with her.

Upon reaching the bar in his local, Peter ordered himself an orange juice and sighed as Leanne entered the pub, although she was living in the flat above the bookies he knew she visited frequently and had stayed over on more than one occasion. Peter was handing the money over to Tina who had placed the glass of orange on the bar as Leanne spoke to him, and he knew as she did that it was for Simon's sake and nothing else.
"Simon needs picking up and hour later, he's got football tonight."
"I thought that was last night?"
"It's been changed. I think you need to get your priorities in order Peter."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Peter snapped agitated at her tone and what she was insinuating.
"It means that you're so wrapped up in your own life you don't even know what's going on in your son's." Leanne snapped.
"Oh don't exaggerate Leanne; it's only changed this week."
"It changed two weeks ago."
"Well two weeks ago then, I don't usually have him on a Thursday. I know how many goals he scored and whether he's enjoying it or not so don't stand there and try to make out that I have no interest in him."
"He needs picking up at half four." Leanne answered rather bitterly before she walked away and Peter sighed, shaking his head a little as he moved over to sit down at one of the free tables in the pub.

Peter had only been sitting on his own for a few moments when he was joined by his cousin; he smiled in acknowledgement as Frank sat down and placed his bottle of beer on the table.
"Alright mate?" Frank questioned before having some of the drink in front of him.
"Rushed off my feet at the Bookies, it would seem the world has gone gambling mad at the moment."
Frank laughed "so business is well then?"
Peter nodded "for now. I just hope things stay that way; I'm not sure what we're going to do when the baby comes yet though, I can't just close the place for the first few weeks. I might have to think about employing someone else." Peter thought aloud and sighed quietly as he thought about having to go through writing up job applications and interviewing people. Maybe he could ask Carla to help him? "How are things at the factory?"
"Yeah, things are good ta. I've got a meeting this afternoon with another client, I don't really want to go if I'm honest but it got me out of shopping with Michelle."
Peter laughed "the silver lining."
Frank laughed along with him and nodded "yeah you could say that. She intends making the most of her afternoon off by the sound of it."
Peter raised his eyebrows a little before both of them had a mouthful of their drinks, Frank speaking before Peter did.
"Listen mate and feel free to say no, but when you said there about not being sure what to do about the bookies when the baby arrives… I might be able to help you with that."
"Are you going to run it for me?" Peter joked.
"Why not?" Frank answered, causing Peter to frown when he realized that Frank wasn't joking, that his tone was serious.
"What?"
"I was thinking about talking to you about it at some point this week but they say there's no time like the present."
"I don't know mate."
"Why not? It would help you when Carla has the baby, you would be able to take as much time off as you needed to sort things out and you wouldn't have to worry about someone who's only just got involved in the business. You know you can trust me."
"I don't know, I was just thinking of temporarily employing someone..."
"Think of me more as a business partner."

Peter frowned "even if I was to agree, where are you getting the money from?"

"I have some put away and it sounds like a good investment from what you've told me?"

"What kind of shares would you be thinking of?"

Frank shrugged "depends how many you wanted to sell and it'd be a nice chunk of money for you just in time for the baby arriving…"
Peter nodded "Yeah it would, listen I do appreciate it. I tell you what I'll to I'll think about it myself and then when Carla gets back I'll talk to her about it."
"What do you need to ask her for? It's your business."
"It's not just about me though is it? Like I said I'll think about it."
Frank nodded "how is Carla anyway?"
"I'm sure she's fine, out there in the sun with her friend." he laughed "there's not really much choice between Weatherfield and LA, is there?"
"I suppose not, it's just she didn't seem herself before she went."
"She's had a lot going on that's all."
"If you're sure."
"If you have something to say Frank then say it."
Frank shook his head with a shrug "I don't."
Peter nodded and finished off his orange before getting up to go to the toilet. As he did Frank smirked, knowing that Peter would be thinking about his offer and that when Carla was told she would be less than pleased about it.

Frank had only been sitting at the table for a moment when Peter's phone, which he had left there beeped to indicate that he had a text, after checking that he wasn't on his way back over to the table he picked up the phone and opened the message. It was from Carla.

"Hey baby. I hope you're not working too hard; did you manage to get Simon for the night? I've just been treated to a morning in the spa which was lovely and Suzie has bought loads for the baby. Try to give me a call if you can, I miss you. Love you x x x"

Frank stayed cool on the outside but he was furious on the inside and after deleting the message, he put Peter's phone back on the table so that he would have no idea that it had been touched. He didn't feel even slightly bad for what he had done to Carla, as far as he was concerned she'd asked for it by making a mug of him and had taken on the wrong person.

Frank had always been jealous of Peter, though he would never admit that. Frank had been spoilt all of his life and he hated that Peter had things he didn't. When he had arrived on the street he had heard about Carla before he'd met her and he had been intrigued and on meeting Carla he knew that if she hadn't been with his cousin he would have tried it on with her. The thing that bugged him was that she was with Peter and it was plain how strongly they both felt for each other. He'd never had that with someone and he was jealous that Peter did.

Initially after attacking Carla, Frank had panicked but on getting home and knowing that if he chose to he could bring Peter's world down around him gave him a sense of power and he liked it. When he'd found out that Carla was pregnant and there was a large chance the baby could be his, he knew it had just added to the power he had. It was something else Peter had that he could take away anytime he chose to.

Although Frank was with Michelle, he knew that it was out of convenience rather than love, it made it less likely that Carla would ever tell Peter what went on, which gave him the sense of power due to knowing that if anyone did it would be him. She was a pretty girl which was always a bonus and she often told him things about Carla, or things about Peter which Carla had told her without thinking twice about it. She was good to have in the office and he knew she loved him. Michelle was one way to make sure he was in Carla's life whether she liked it or not.

Frank silently wondered whether Peter would take him up on his offer of putting money into the Bookies, he knew Carla would try and talk him out of it, but the seed had been planted and he knew that was enough for that moment in time. At worst Peter would just think about the offer and at best it would cause a row between him and Carla.

Peter walked back to the table and sat talking to Frank for a little while longer before both men decided to go back to work, one having no idea what the other was really like.

-

Peter arrived back at the bookies and was glad that he had managed to persuade Leanne into letting Simon stay with him for an extra night that week. He usually stayed with him and Carla on a Sunday and a Monday night and with Leanne for the rest of the week. The arrangements for Simon had been made on her terms after Peter felt that was the least he owed her after deciding to leave her for Carla. Simon hadn't warmed to Carla as much as he'd hoped but he was civil, and for Peter that was a step in the right direction. Sometimes he would make a comment or snap at her and Peter knew it was far from being perfect, but, hoped that in time his son would get used to him being with someone else. The baby he was having with Carla had complicated matters and he'd had a lengthy conversation with Simon to make sure he knew that he would still love him just as much, and let him know how nice it would be for him to have a little brother or sister. Although things were hard for all of them and Peter knew there was a long way to come, he never for one moment wished that Carla had not become pregnant, for him it was the icing on the cake.

He picked up his phone to check if there had been a text from Carla but there was none and he only hoped that was due to her having such a good time. He knew she had struggled over the past six months with her mum dying, and getting pregnant fairly quickly had come as shock to her too. Though he tried to deny it he was sure that there was something else, for a few weeks before she had found she was pregnant she had become incredibly distant and he was sure one morning when she thought that he wasn't there, he came back to the flat and heard her sobbing in the shower. Peter had questioned Carla about it but she had denied crying and blamed having a sickness bug for how she was feeling. He had settled for that being the answer for those few weeks and of course the weeks after he knew why, if anyone had been going through what she had they would have struggled.

Peter was missing Carla a lot and he hoped that when she got home the holiday would have helped her relax and it would allow them to settle back into a routine that they had almost found before Carla had fallen ill. Peter decided to give Carla a quick call before he picked Simon up from football and a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips at the thought.